Discuss the real issues

April 12, 2009

To the editor:

On April 3, Carl Schrock (Cost of Green Energy) asked why green energy developers will not debate the many issues that surround their technologies. As the leading opposition group against Gamesa’s proposed destruction of Shaffer Mountain, we have experienced a similar problem getting this “green” energy developer to discuss environmental issues in an open public forum. They simply refuse.

In our fight against Gamesa, we have retained a physicist, evolutionary biologist, ornitholigist, the top bat expert in the east, and erosion and sedimentation engineers to advise us whether and to what extent Gamesa’s industrial wind development will adversely affect the Piney Run and Clear Shade Creek watersheds on Shaffer Mountain.

We have studied the situation carefully with scientists. Yet instead of meeting with us to discuss the issues in a public forum, Gamesa hides behind Philadelphia Gov. Rendell - a blind promoter of wind power who is rapidly sacrificing the natural heritage of the Commonwealth. Enter John Hanger, a former wind industry lobbyist who Rendell has chosen to head DEP, and you have a recipe for the utter ruination of many of the last best wild places in Pennsylvania.

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Yet wind developers and politicians refuse to discuss the “issues.” Instead they feed a steady stream of inaccurate information to the press which, in many cases, gets printed as fact. No debate. No discussion.

Mr. Schrock asks “why can’t we have good old town hall debates by scientists on both sides of this very serious issue and take it out of the hands of politicians and companies… who make millions and billions of dollars if we go down this road of no return?” The answer is that honest and open debate is the last thing Gamesa wants because in an open debate the public would discover that wind turbines are unreliable and produce only 20 percent of their claimed generation capacity in our mountains. They would learn that billions of their tax dollars are being used to pay for 70 percent of the cost of building these multi-million dollar machines. They would also learn that wind generated power costs five times as much as coal, nuke or hydro generated power and, because of its unreliability, does not reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Because no one know when the wind is going to blow, coal-burning power plants can NEVER be shut down. No shut downs - no greenhouse gas reductions.

Yes, Mr. Schrock, the last thing these “green” energy people want us to know is the facts because they would lose. But without debate they can continue to control the media and keep us all in the dark.